FORTUNE FAVOURS HER

Episode 11

As the other men leave the room, their anger palpable in the air, Mr. Cassano remains seated, his demeanor relaxed and composed. He watches them go with a detached air, as if their frustration is of little consequence to him.

Once they've departed, he turns his attention back to Mr. Carnevale, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. "You've certainly stirred up the hornet's nest with this decision," he remarks, his voice calm and measured.

Mr. Carnevale stays silent, his gaze shifting towards Cassano as if communicating silently. "At least they are pretty ladies," he says as he gets up. He looks around, and the room clears out; all the remaining guards and waiters walk out except for Albert, Mr. Carnevale, Miran, Mr. Cassano, and me. Mister Cassano slowly removes his jacket and places it on the chair.

He turns to face us. "You both know what you're signing up for," he says. I'm still sceptical about this; I don't want to join the mafia, not like this. I stand for law and justice.

"Miran is convinced and here willingly," Mr. Carnevale says, "but Miss Collins is here by force."

"That's interesting," says Mr. Cassano. "Do you have any friends, family, or a spouse?"

"It's just... my boyfriend and I," I say, feeling a weight settle in my chest. Except for my grandma, I didn't know any family. "In all honesty, I don't wish to be here," I admit, looking up at Mr. Carnevale.

Mr. Cassano's gaze flickers between Mr. Carnevale and me, his expression unreadable. "And your boyfriend?" he inquires, his tone neutral.

"He's unaware of my current situation," I admit, feeling a pang of guilt at the thought of Oliver, oblivious to the dangers I'm facing. "I haven't been able to contact him."

Mr. Cassano nods thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing slightly as if considering his next words carefully. "You have a choice," he says finally, his voice low but firm. "You can either embrace this opportunity and prove your worth, or you can walk away and ...die." Not much of a choice when you think about it.

"I know I can't just walk out," I say, a sense of resignation settling over me. "I wish to keep my identity. My boyfriend and I still do my detective work."

"I was counting on you saying that, because this depends on your identity," says Mr. Carnevale. "I need you to be a double spy."

Mr. Carnevale's words hang in the air, the weight of his request settling heavily on my shoulders. A double spy. The idea sends a shiver down my spine, but I know deep down that I don't have much of a choice in the matter.

"What exactly do you need me to do?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil of emotions swirling inside me.

"You'll continue your work with the DA as usual," Mr. Carnevale explains, his tone matter-of-fact. "But you'll also provide us with any valuable information you come across. Anything that could be useful to our operations."

I nod slowly, absorbing the gravity of the situation. Becoming a double spy means walking a dangerous tightrope between two worlds, each with its own set of risks and consequences.

"And if I refuse?" I ask, although I already know the answer.

Mr. Carnevale's expression hardens slightly, a glint of steel in his eyes. "Then we'll have no choice but to consider you a liability," he says, his voice firm. "And you know what happens to liabilities."

I swallow hard, the reality of my predicament sinking in. There's no turning back now. I've been thrust into a world of shadows and deception, where trust is a rare commodity and betrayal lurks around every corner.

"I'll do it," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'll be your double spy."

Mr. Carnevale nods, his expression unreadable. "Good," he says simply. "Welcome to the family, Miss Collins."

"But that must come with a big check," I say, determined to ensure that my newfound involvement in this dangerous game comes with appropriate compensation.

Mr. Carnevale's lips curve into a sly smile at my remark. "Of course," he replies, his tone implying that such matters were already accounted for. "Rest assured, Miss Collins, your compensation will be commensurate with the risks you undertake." Despite the gravity of the situation, a small glimmer of relief washes over me at the assurance of financial security.

"Very well," Mr. Carnevale continues, his demeanour shifting back to businesslike efficiency. "We'll arrange for the necessary arrangements to be made. In the meantime, you'll need to meet with your boyfriend for the weekend before he gets suspicious, Naple is good this season."

I glance up at Albert, the only one who knows about my planned trip to Florence with my boyfriend. Mr. Carnevale hands me an envelope. "This should be enough for a five-day holiday. By the time you come back, your work will be well defined."

I nod my head and look at Mister Cassano. Mr. Carnevale signals to Albert. "Albert will take you home," he says, "and rest up before tomorrow."

I follow closely behind Albert as we exit the room, leaving Miran behind with the gentlemen. All the people who were expelled from the room stand outside the door. We walk down the corridor, and Albert leads us to a lift. He opens the door, and I step in first.

"If you feel unsure, this isn't the job for you," Albert remarks.

"As if I have a choice," I whisper, feeling the weight of my circumstances pressing down on me. I look down as the lift begins to move upwards. "Why did you tell Mr. Carnevale about my calls?"

"He told me to observe and report," Albert responds tersely as he steps out of the lift. I try to dig deeper, seeking answers, but he remains silent as the lift doors close, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

''What did you find when you did a background search on me, I know you do those kinds of things before you recruit'' I ask looking his way from moving forward.

Albert pauses, his expression unreadable as he considers my question. After a moment, he responds in a measured tone, "You've led a relatively ordinary life up until now. Nothing particularly noteworthy in your background."

I narrow my eyes, sensing there's more to his answer than he's letting on. "Is that all?" I press, my voice tinged with suspicion.

He hesitates before replying, his gaze meeting mine briefly before flicking away. "That's all you need to know," he says, his tone final. With that, he continues walking, leaving me to ponder his cryptic response.

''Nothing weird,'' I ask

"I didn't say that," Albert responds, his voice low. "But some things are better left unsaid." He offers no further explanation, and I'm left to wonder what secrets he's keeping from me. As we reach the ground floor, I follow him out of the building, a sense of unease settling over me like a heavy cloak.

As we step out into the cool evening air, the sun setting in the distance, I can't shake the feeling of uncertainty that gnaws at the edges of my mind. Albert walks briskly ahead, his posture rigid and his movements purposeful. I match his pace, feeling a sense of urgency building within me.

"Albert, wait," I call out, catching up to him. He stops and turns to face me, his expression guarded.

"What is it?" he asks, his tone clipped.

"I need to know what you found," I insist, my voice tinged with frustration. "Whatever it is, I deserve to know."

Albert's gaze softens slightly, and for a moment, I see a flicker of sympathy in his eyes. "Trust me, Ava," he says, his voice quiet but firm. "Some things are better left unknown."

I bristle at his evasive response, but deep down, I know he's right. In this world of secrets and shadows, ignorance can sometimes be a shield against the dangers of it. Reluctantly, I nod, conceding defeat for now.

"Fine," I say, my voice resigned. "But this isn't over. I'll find out the truth, one way or another."

Albert nods in acknowledgement, and together, we continue our journey into the night, each step bringing me closer to a truth I may not be ready to face. But one thing is certain: in a world where deceit and betrayal reign supreme, knowledge is power, and I'll do whatever it takes to claim mine.